Back

Director's Picks

The Supreme Court Just Pushed Environmental Justice Even Further Aside

Summary

The Supreme Court's recent decision to eliminate the Chevron deference marks a significant shift in regulatory authority, potentially weakening numerous environmental protections. Chevron deference has long allowed courts to defer to federal agencies' expertise in interpreting ambiguous laws. The ruling transfers more power to the courts, potentially jeopardizing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on air and water pollution, toxic chemicals, and climate change policies. Environmentalists fear this change could lead to increased legal challenges against existing rules, undermining efforts to combat climate change and protect public health. The decision represents a victory for conservative efforts to limit federal regulatory power and raises concerns about the future effectiveness of climate and environmental regulations.

discover more

January 23, 2025
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

Despite federal policy shifts under the Trump administration favoring fossil fuels, community solar remains a growing success in the U.S. The model allows ratepayers to access sol

January 22, 2025
Economic Justice
Economic Justice

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo clarifying that President Trump’s executive order to pause Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

January 21, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

President Trump issued an executive order halting disbursements from two major Biden-era laws: the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act

January 21, 2025

President Trump signed executive orders prioritizing fossil fuels while rolling back renewable energy efforts. These orders aim to expand oil and gas production, halt funding for

January 20, 2025
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed executive orders reversing key climate policies from the Biden administration. He declared a “national energy emergency,”

January 18, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

A report by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) warns that the global economy could lose 50% of its GDP between 2070 and 2090 due to climate shocks like fires, flooding,

January 17, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

Los Angeles wildfires have ravaged 40,000 acres and destroyed 12,000 structures since January 7, exposing residents to uniquely hazardous smoke. Unlike typical wildfires, these

January 17, 2025
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

California's electric truck depots are increasingly adopting microgrids powered by solar, batteries, and gas generators to address utility grid delays. Prologis’ Denker Avenue

January 17, 2025

A study in *Environmental Science & Technology* shows prioritizing the closure of coal-fired power plants in environmental justice communities could prevent up to 136 premature

January 17, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Residents of Shiloh, Alabama, a majority-Black community, are seeking federal accountability for years of severe flooding linked to a highway expansion by the Alabama Department

January 17, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

The American Conservation Coalition (ACC), a conservative climate organization, aims to influence Donald Trump’s second term with an "America-first climate strategy" focused on

January 15, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

President Biden’s American Climate Corps, aimed at creating green jobs to combat climate change, is shutting down ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Launched in 2023 with a

January 15, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for a second term, state-level climate initiatives are poised to counteract federal rollbacks. States like California, bolstered by the U.

January 14, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

The Center for Microgrid Research at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, not to be confused with the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, is expanding its efforts to

January 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

New York City has implemented congestion pricing, making it the first U.S. city to adopt this policy, which charges vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The plan aims to